SWEET CHESTNUT – castanea sativa: [ 42 ]
A deciduous tree that grows to 35m and can live for 700 years. The grey-purple bark develops vertical fissures, which spiral upwards, as the tree ages. 16-28 cm long and 5-9cm wide, the leaves have loose toothed edges and a pointy tip with around 20 pairs of parallel veins. The flowers contain male and female parts, most of the long, yellow catkins are male, while female parts are at the base. Insects pollinate the tree and then the female parts develop into the shiny brown nuts surrounded by a spiky green case. Red squirrels like to eat the nuts and the catkins provide pollen for insects. Many micro moths eat the foliage. The wood is used in carpentry and furniture. Sweet chestnuts can be roasted and used in poultry stuffing, nut roasts and have a high level of starch.
A deciduous tree that grows to 35m and can live for 700 years. The grey-purple bark develops vertical fissures, which spiral upwards, as the tree ages. 16-28 cm long and 5-9cm wide, the leaves have loose toothed edges and a pointy tip with around 20 pairs of parallel veins. The flowers contain male and female parts, most of the long, yellow catkins are male, while female parts are at the base. Insects pollinate the tree and then the female parts develop into the shiny brown nuts surrounded by a spiky green case. Red squirrels like to eat the nuts and the catkins provide pollen for insects. Many micro moths eat the foliage. The wood is used in carpentry and furniture. Sweet chestnuts can be roasted and used in poultry stuffing, nut roasts and have a high level of starch.
